My first visit to the Soviet Union was when Boryspil was still a "closed" airport, mainly for military and government use. There was no such thing as a steady stream of Western tourists clamouring to enter.

A group of 6 journalists from the west was en route and about 45 minutes before the approach, stewards came by our seats and collected cameras and writing materials before shuttering our windows so that we could not see, photo, or draw diagrams of the airport.

Upon landing we were herded on the tarmac to a closed bus and driven blind to the terminal. Once inside, we had our first view of Kyiv (Kiev back then). What a difference today!

I don't want to make this thread political so will try to refrain from political statements as much as possible. I understand that some might wish to make this political and so I will respond at the outset: If you have not lived full time for at least 2 years in Russia or Ukraine, then I am not interested in what you think, nor the opinion of your wife. Sorry.

Let us just say that I have always loved Ukraine as she was my first-hand experience with the fascination of all things Soviet.

My introduction to the Soviet Union came on 18 June 73 when Leonid Brezhnev landed at Andrews Air base outside DC. He was General Secretary of the Communist Part and leader of the Soviet Union. I was a small fry just fortunate enough to be attached to an ABC news crew that was there to broadcast the meeting at the White House between Brezhnev and US president Richard Nixon. The "Russia bug" bit me that day and I vowed to someday work as a journalist in Russia.

Coming to Ukraine has been sort of a homecoming of sorts as some years ago I was the producer for the weekly English language radio broadcasts of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, traveling back and forth to Kyiv from Moscow on weekends.

I was around for the Orange revolution and again for Maidan. I support those who wish to have a better life and future for their children, just as I supported former independence movements in Chechnya and others. Now another "revolution" is taking place as the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch in Constantinople may soon grant fully recognized and independent status to a Ukrainian Orthodox Church not under the umbrella of Russia, as opposed by the Kremlin and Russian Patriarch Kirill. As an Orthodox person myself, I hope that it comes to fruition.

We recently toured the ancient caves monastery, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra which is under Russian control. The dean, one of the monastery leaders, had just arrived and parked his almost new Bentley Mulsanne ($300,000+) in a special reserved spot. As we were ready to enter the caves area, a Russian monk stepped over and instructed my wife, who was already wearing a head scarf and long dress, to put on a special long skirt. Already modest in dress, she asked "why?' to which the monk replied that only modest women could enter. The special skirt was no longer than her dress and I was both amazed and pleased when she retorted that if modesty were an issue then perhaps the dean might wish to park his Bentley somewhere out of sight. The monk's jaw dropped, and we entered. I was proud of her.

Outside of Kyiv's main streets, the roads are crappy everywhere in the country, just like much of Russia. Corruption is just as thick as in Russia and that is sad. Oligarchs are the same in either country, including most of the leadership who discover great wealth by becoming a public servant.

But I love the people, and unlike in Russia where the populace is spoon-fed one state sponsored ideology, at least some of the population seems to possess living brain cells and are not devoted to the death to corrupt leaders. Ukraine is a work in progress and in my estimation at least has hope of someday becoming a real country. I cannot say the same for a larger neighbor.

Ukraine also has neighbors to learn from, such as Poland and Georgia. Ukraine and Poland have some issues at the moment, but at least the channels of communication remain open and there are helpful signs.

Lviv can be very expensive over the holidays and we planned to spend the New Year there, but every Airbnb that I reserved cancelled the booking with the first explanation that by mistake it had already been rented. Then mysteriously, 4 of the 5 I had reserved, contacted me again saying that they were suddenly available....but much higher rent of course. LOL This is against Airbnb rules, and I pointed it out to each, and only one apologized and offered it at the original rate.

We decided to head south in late December to visit relatives in southern Ukraine that haven't seen in years, then host some visiting American friends in Kyiv for the New Year.

. I was a small fry just fortunate enough to be attached to an ABC news crew that was there to broadcast the meeting at the White House between Brezhnev and US president Richard Nixon. The "Russia bug" bit me that day and I vowed to someday work as a journalist in Russia.

Which Russian bug bit you? Did you see some smokinhotkovas in the group that accompanied Brezhnev or did you feel it would be a thrill to work in a country the West thought dangerous?

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There are people that will pass info about you and your family. Do not share info about yourself or share photos as they can search for you on the internet and distribute what they found since they are allowed to participate here.

How dare you come here and criticise AirBnb! ! The local resident know everything will not hear any of that! ( shh that would be Moby !)

Very pleased to hear you are in Kyiv -- and a little safer !

I liked this non political comment -- quote"But I love the people, and unlike in Russia where the populace is spoon-fed one state sponsored ideology, at least some of the population seems to possess living brain cells and are not devoted to the death to corrupt leaders.Ukraine is a work in progress and in my estimation at least has hope of someday becoming a real country. I cannot say the same for a larger neighbor. "end quote

Hard to avoid politics -- but a lot of what an "outsider" can see in Ukraine is the potential for a real future -- and as you point out there are some countries that can be a guide in general direction.

My view is that great progress has been made -- but -- again is at the political crossroads. Apart from the ongoing war -the Russian nemesis looms large and cannot be ignored. What is one of the more remarkable observations I make is that turning west has been achieved much faster that I expected and is happening more successfully than predicted.There are many positives generally speaking-- and that is in no way diminishing some of the all to real negatives/

It will be interesting to read your observations

Welcome back-- I am sure there are many who will be happy to see your return.

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SLAVA UKRAYINI ! HEROYAM SLAVA!!!!Слава Украине! Слава героям слава!Слава Україні! Слава героям! translated as: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!!! is a Ukrainian greeting slogan being used now all over Ukraine to signify support for a free independent Ukraine

This is the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine. It opened in 1866 and is one of the national libraries of Ukraine. It began as the city's public library, a system that has expanded all over the city.

It is quite a historic place to visit, near the soccer stadium, and the address is: Naberezhno-Khreshachatyts'ka St, 1, Kyiv, Ukraine, 04070

My wife's favourite Kyiv restaurant is O'Panas and it is featured in this video. The host butchered the restaurant name, but had good things to say about the food and atmosphere. It is located just across from Red University, on the edge of Taras Shevchenko Park, and the food leans toward traditional Ukrainian.

The restaurant is literally built around a tree and the interior is very creative.

my fav place in Kyiv is Osteria Pantagruela small intimate placeexcellent everythingwithin walking of Opera, so you can combine dinner before, opera, followed by cocktails afterif it's any indication of what kind of place it is, it was Yulia Tymoshenko's favorite, I saw her there several timesbody guard gave me a glare

For clarity, one cannot escape the fact that there are issues in Ukraine, including a war in the East. From an interview in 2016, here is a perspective of that situation from a guy for which I have immense respect.

For clarity, one cannot escape the fact that there are issues in Ukraine, including a war in the East. From an interview in 2016, here is a perspective of that situation from a guy for which I have immense respect.

This may surprise you, but many Ukrainians have a very positive impression. His supposed isolationism is not aimed at them, and they understand it clearly. His messages to Putin that sanctions will continue until the return Crimea, getting Russia out of Eastern Ukraine, and his recent assistance with Ukraine's military efforts have earned him respect with many.

Those are just facts. Naturally not everyone loves him, but internationally I have found that he is likely more admired abroad than at home.

Ukrainians love directness, and Trump pulls no punches. They appreciate a man with balls, even if they may not like every policy..

This may surprise you, but many Ukrainians have a very positive impression. His supposed isolationism is not aimed at them, and they understand it clearly. His messages to Putin that sanctions will continue until the return Crimea, getting Russia out of Eastern Ukraine, and his recent assistance with Ukraine's military efforts have earned him respect with many.

Those are just facts. Naturally not everyone loves him, but internationally I have found that he is likely more admired internationally than at home.

Well I DID ask !))

Thanks for responding .... Yup, I'd be surprised ...

I don't know what other nations you go to, but I do not recognise this 'popularity' - he is largely seen in a negative aspect in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Turkey, France, Germany and not a few other EU nations I've visited this year.. I detect the same in Canada, Australia and New Zealand ... ?

I don't know what other nations you go to, but I do not recognise this 'popularity' - he is largely seen in a negative aspect in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Turkey, France, Germany and not a few other EU nations I've visited this year.. I detect the same in Canada, Australia and New Zealand ... ?

I don't think he cares. Neither do I care if he cares, one way or the other. Europe is weak and the danger is that as Europe sinks it tends to drag others down with it.

As someone familiar with walking thru the halls of the Kremlin, Novo-Ogaryvovo, and the Russian White House (government complex on the river), he is not at all liked. Probably one of the dumbest perceptions in the West is that somehow Putin likes him. Putin is interested in sharing the world stage, and a large personality like Trump doesn't like to share. This frustrates Putin to no end. Putin's aim is to rebuild the "Russian World" and he perceives that Trump, or any American or Western leader for that matter, is standing in his way.

Putin's frustration with Trump is indeed one big reason why so many Ukrainians like him. We were eating lunch in a Kyiv restaurant recently and a guy (not American) was wearing a MAGA hat! I could not help but laugh and asked where he got it. In his thick accent he exclaimed, "On line of course."

Putin has only himself to blame for losing Ukraine, and he has lost it. The past 4-5 years have served to separate any hope by Putin of rebuilding his precious Russian World (code for a least partial reconstruction of the Soviet Union). They only way he could get it back is by a large scale invasion and installation of a puppet government.